CH 15

Chapter 15: 10 months to go

Breathe through my shoulder.

“Garen.”

I think I hear a voice ringing a bell, and I turn around.

Mika is gone.

We get to the end of the forest and look for Mika, but she isn’t there.

It’s been two months since Mika was summoned.

I have ten months to find Mika and put an end to this stupid war.

If she isn’t in the castle town, and I can’t track her down in these woods…

There is only one possibility.

I cast my gaze beyond the forest to the valley.

There are no reports of a ‘Shrine Maiden’ appearing in the demon’s land.

“Mika is a ‘Saint’.”

By any stretch of the imagination, there is no Shrine Maiden. However, every country except Crystalia must pass through a castle town on their way there. So Crystalia is the only option.

Humans are unable to cross the valley behind it. We should go back into the castle and organize ourselves.

“Mika.”

I promise I’ll get you back.

I swore to myself and turned away from the forest.

■□■

What better way to express gratitude to the Demon King? I thought about baking sweets, which is one of my few hobbies, but sugar is a valuable commodity in this world, and I doubt someone in a position to be assassinated would accept homemade food so easily.

That’s right; Garen was content to eat it. That was before I realized sugar was a valuable commodity in my previous life. Looking back, I’m tempted to ask the Fifth Prince if that’s okay.

In any case, there’s no better way to express gratitude to the Demon King.

I couldn’t come up with a good idea after much deliberation, so I decided to ask the Demon King directly.

I asked Sarah to schedule a time when the Demon King wouldn’t be too busy, and three days later, the Demon King appeared in my room.

“What’s the matter, Shrine Maiden?”

“Thank you so much for taking the time, even with your busy schedule.”

I told him directly that I wanted to thank him for all he had done for me, but I didn’t know how.

the Demon King made an unexpected suggestion.

“Then sing me a song from your world.”

“A song?”

“Yes. I want to hear it in your voice.”

“I’m not particularly good at it…”

“That’s fine; I’d like to hear it.”

For the first time, the Demon King and I lock gazes. His deep red eyes are so bright that I feel as if I’m being drawn into them. I nod to hide my suddenly hot cheeks and start singing loudly.

I couldn’t decide which song to sing, so I chose one by my mother’s favorite band.

It’s a song about how unique everyone is.

the Demon King applauded when I finished the song.

“You have a lovely voice… I heard something pleasant—thank you very much.”

the Demon King smiled at me, and his kind face made me feel embarrassed.

After that, I spent some quiet time with the Demon King, not saying anything else.